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Helsinki Library’s plays important role in promoting cohesion in Finland
Helsinki’s head of culture and leisure Tommi Laitio stressed the importance of the Helsinki Central Library Oodi for cohesion in Finland.
City authorities headed by Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen noted that Finland spends approximately EUR 50 per year per resident on its library system.
Laitio pointed out that the Oodi project cost nearly EUR 100 million and expressed belief that Finland’s spending on libraries is more than justified.
“I don’t think EUR 50 for restoring people’s hope in living together is a bad investment,” he stressed and added that the library is committed to openness. According to Laitio, “it’s probably the most diverse place in our city in many ways.”
The library shares the square with and is sited right opposite the Finnish parliament building, and was built with cohesion in mind, as a space for residents to learn about each other and the world.
The ground floor is a space for meetings and an extension of the square, boasting a coffee shop and a theatre, among other.
Roughly 10,000 people visit the library each day, with approximately 420,000 residents visiting in the first month.
Laitio noted that more than 3 million people visited Oodi since its opening at the end of 2018 and concluded that the library remains popular because “you can be your best person inside this building.”
(Photo credit: City of Helsinki)
